There’s no shortage of young tech entrepreneurs who would like to start the next Facebook. But Oliver Cameron of Menlo Park-based Everyme has his own ideas about sharing with friends.

Cameron, 23, began building successful iPhone apps when he was a college student in England, before deciding to start his own company and move to Silicon Valley. Everyme, which he launched with co-founder Vibhu Norby, is one of several recent startups targeting users who prefer sharing on a smaller, more private scale, rather than the broader stage provided by the far-flung networks of Facebook and others.

While it has some features in common with Facebook, Google(GOOG)+ and smaller services like Path, the Everyme app is designed for sharing messages or photos within closed circles of relatives or friends. If the members of your circle don’t use the service, they’ll still get your message via email or text. But you can’t share those messages on a platform that’s seen by anyone outside those small circles.

Everyme won’t say how many active users it has, but it received seed funding from Andreessen Horowitz, Greylock Partners and other well-known investors. This interview was edited for clarity and length.

Q You describe Everyme as “the perfect alternative to Facebook.” If Facebook has 900 million users, what makes you think people want an alternative?

A People don’t always know they need an alternative. A lot of people today are fine with sharing everything publicly. But it’s really only in the last ten years, since social networking has come about, that people are OK with sharing what they’re having for breakfast on Twitter.

In real life, people don’t get up on stage in front of 500 friends with a loudspeaker and announce news. They go to a group of 4, 5 or 6 people. It’s usually one of the significant groups in your life, your family or best friends, co-workers, or maybe a significant other.

And the stuff you share with those people is completely different from what you share on most public services. And it’s even different from circle to circle: The stuff you share with your family is different from what you share with your best friends.

Q What if I do want to announce something more widely? Maybe I got a promotion and I want to trumpet it to the world.

A I think in the future people will have two networks. You’ll have your broadcasting networks, where you’ll share news with everyone in your life even if they’re not really important to you. But we also think there will be a private network where people will do a lot more sharing.

I have a Facebook account, but it’s interesting: I came here from England. I have a bunch of friends in England who aren’t tech people. After moving out to Silicon Valley, all of my friends here are pretty much tech-oriented. So the stuff I share on Facebook is probably announcements that are going to be tech-related, which doesn’t interest my non-tech friends. I have a circle of friends in England that I keep in touch with on Everyme.

Q Your privacy policy says that I, as a user, own my data. What does that mean?

A A good example is that, when I share something on Facebook, or even if I like something on Facebook, there’s a potential for that to follow me around. So if I like something particularly embarrassing, say Justin Bieber, my friends on Facebook might see a “sponsored story” that says “Oliver likes Justin Bieber’s new movie.” We’re never going to use a user’s content to advertise like that in a public setting.

Q Are you saying you won’t let advertisers target users who fit a generic profile based on their actions or habits?

A It would never be delivered like that, where an advertisement is just pushed into your circle. On Everyme you might say to a circle, “I’m going to see (the film) “The Avengers” tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Mountain View. Do you guys want to come along?” So this person is interested in “The Avengers” right now. We’re still thinking about how to supply interesting data that can help users. We might be able to provide reviews, or directions, or a “Buy tickets now” button.

Q Are you making any money right now?

A Right now, no. But there’s definitely a potential to monetize this.

Q One of the features of Everyme is that it will go through my phone’s address book to automatically create circles. I can adjust them but I don’t have to build from scratch. That’s convenient, but other services have been criticized for scooping up address book information.

A People care about their address book. It’s a list they’ve created over time and people don’t want anyone going in there and just stealing their stuff. First, we ask for permission. And then, it’s a one-time process: The address book gets uploaded, there’s a process where we figure out your circles, and then it’s destroyed. Some people thought we might send out random invite emails to people, but we never do that.

Q On the other hand, couldn’t I just create my own email list to send something to a group?

A Some people have said we’re a great-looking mailing list, but we’d like to think there are more meaningful consequences. My mom’s a great example: She’d never sign up for Facebook, not because of privacy but she literally doesn’t know how to use most technology. But she does know how to use email.

Think you know Disneyland? Well, ponder this: There are people who go there every single day. Seriously. Every day. And about a zillion others who shelled out hundreds for annual passes. What do they know that can make your visit more enjoyable?